Ewen McKenzie urges controversial back to rebuild career as he signs
short-term contract with Aviva Premiership club

James O’Connor has been urged by Australia coach Ewen McKenzie to seize the opportunity to rebuild his career during his short-term move to London Irish, which is expected to be confirmed by the Aviva Premiership club this morning.

While O’Connor’s signing represents a considerable coup for London Irish director of rugby, Brian Smith, McKenzie hopes that the troubled Wallabies player will use the moveto the northern hemisphere to r­esurrect his hopes of representing his country at the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England.

O’Connor, capped 44 times for Australia, including the first two Tests against the British and Irish Lions this summer, had his contract with the Australian Rugby Union terminated earlier this month after he was escorted from Perth Airport for drunken behaviour.

It was the latest incident in a series of off-field disciplinary issues.

O’Connor’s move to the Premiership is not without considerable risk, as it all but rules out any involvement in next year’s Super 15 tournament, which will leave him with just one season to play himself back into the Wallabies’ World Cup squad.

McKenzie, however, said the key for O’Connor was for him to ensure that the decision to join London Irish was “the right decision”.

“I’ve had a lot of discussions with him about what I think is important, but ultimately he’s in his shoes and has to make decisions about his life,” McKenzie said.

“You can only encourage people and in the end they have to make a decision. He’s made a choice about what he’s going to do so he has to make it the right decision.

“I made it clear what my preference was, for him as a person. I wasn’t talking to him as a coach, I was talking to him as a person, but that’s between me and him.”

When McKenzie was asked if he wanted O’Connor back in Australia next year to be in the mix for the World Cup, he added: “It’s irrelevant, because I’ll be picking the best players at that time to play in the World Cup.

"I’m hoping the guys we’ve got here right now are going to push through and do good things.”

O’Connor, who almost certainly would have featured in the Australia squad to face England at Twickenham on Saturday but for his misdemeanours, arrived in London on Monday and will be unveiled by London Irish at their Sunbury training ground in south west London on Tuesday morning.

Smith described O’Connor last week as “a world-class player” and “a terrific kid” and clearly believes that he can provide the 23-year-old with a nurturing environment while benefiting from his world-class skills as Irish seek to move clear of any relegation concerns this season.